Here's the promised second chapter. And don't worry, in case this story continues (depends on your reviews) the future chapters will be longer as some of you may already know. I just want to test the water (is that right?).
Just let me know what you think. Also: If you have any questions about the subject I chose don't hesitate to ask. It's actually too long for an A/N.
We suffer primarily not from our vices or our weaknesses, but from our illusions. We are haunted, not by reality, but by those images we have put in their place. - Daniel J. Boorstin
The doctors had given Tony strict orders and told him to bring Ziva in twice a week for therapy sessions.
They had also warned him to be prepared for further attacks from Ziva since they still didn't know the reason behind them.
At first he wasn't sure if he could handle the situation on his own, but Gibbs had told him that he could always call when things got too much.
When Ziva was discharged she was a ghost of herself and only shivered slightly when Tony gently supported her while leaving the hospital.
They gladly got away with a few bruises and scratches, but whatever was going on inside of her seemed so much worse.
He kept an eye on her on their entire ride home and the emptiness and absence in her eyes was already haunting him.
How could such a rather small incident affect her that much? It was something he just couldn't comprehend.
Finally being home again he gently ushered her towards the couch, knowing it would be safer since he could keep an eye on her when she was in the same room.
He bent down on her level before softly speaking up.
"Hey Zi, should I make you some tea?" For the first time since they left the hospital she actually responded to his question and seemed to be back in reality.
"Yeah, that would be nice." With that he was off to the kitchen to prepare some tea and think about the situation.
He knew that the medicaments were still working and that she would get better soon, but it nevertheless scared him a little. He was afraid of what would come once she remembered what happened.
As if on cue Ziva spoke up in the living room.
"Tony?" He was by her side within seconds, not wanting to miss a chance to talk to her.
"What happened?" She asked and it made one of his fears come true. She didn't remember.
"I tried to clean your face and you started to fight me off. I'm sorry I startled you." He didn't quite know what he was sorry for, but it just felt right to apologize.
"It is me who is sorry Tony." She seemed so small and fragile all of a sudden, her voice sounding like the one of a rueful child.
"Don't think this is your fault, ok? First of all you need to rest and we can talk about everything else later." Tony now stated, the tea long forgotten.
"Ok." She mumbled and he quickly covered her with a blanket and closed the curtains a little since it was still early in the afternoon.
She was soon curled up into a small and Tony couldn't help but watch her sleeping because she seemed so much more peaceful.
The illusion however only lasted about an hour before a nightmare began haunting her.
Tony felt so lost, not knowing how to react. He knew he had to wake her but at the same time it would mean he had to touch her and he would have to deal with the consequences.
He tried to be as gentle as possible, but she nevertheless went into fight mode again.
"No! Don't hurt me again. Please don't." She almost screamed in a pleading tone while she hit his arms over and over again.
"Wake up Ziva. It's me, Tony. Nobody's going to hurt you. Do you hear me?" He told her firmly, hoping she would stop fighting soon.
Several moments later he felt the power draining from her and her body going limp again.
Tears were trickling down her cheeks and he carefully ushered her into his embrace.
She quickly curled up again, seeking comfort in his arms once she realized she was safe with him.
Tony rocked back and forth with Ziva still in his arms, knowing that whatever she must've dreamed was still haunting her.
He also knew that she wasn't able to voice her fears and even though the thought hurt him he knew he had to give her the time she needed.
"Shh, shhh, shhh, it's going to be ok Ziva. Just relax." Tony continued whispering sweet little nothings into her ear until she fell asleep again and didn't move once, because he knew she would have nightmares again once he was gone.
He didn't know how long they had been sitting like this, but eventually sleep took over him as well, hopefully bringing him the well-needed energy he would need for the upcoming days.